Basil of Caesarea → Amphilochius, of Iconium
Tradução moderna em inglês
Your interest in the affairs of the Isaurian church is exactly what I would expect from the zeal and good judgment that continually earn my admiration. Even the most casual observer can see that it is in every way better for responsibility and oversight to be divided among several bishops. You have noticed this yourself and done well to bring the situation to my attention.
But finding the right men is not easy. While we naturally want the credit that comes from numbers and desire to see God's church more effectively governed through more officers, we must be careful not to bring the ministry into disrepute by appointing men of poor character, and in the process teach the laity to be indifferent. You know well enough that the conduct of the governed usually matches the conduct of those set over them.
Perhaps, then, it would be better to appoint one thoroughly proven man -- though even this may not be simple -- to oversee the whole city, and entrust him with managing the details on his own authority. Only let him be "a servant of God, a workman who needs not be ashamed" [2 Timothy 2:15], "not looking to his own interests but to the interests of the many, that they may be saved" [cf. Philippians 2:4, 1 Thessalonians 2:16]. If he finds himself overwhelmed, he can bring in fellow workers for the harvest.
If we can find such a man, I genuinely believe that one good bishop is worth many mediocre ones, and that this approach will serve the churches better while exposing us to less risk. If, however, that proves too difficult, let us first appoint overseers to the small towns and villages that have traditionally been episcopal sees, and then worry about the larger appointments afterward.
Texto latino / grego
[Πρός: Ἀμφιλοχίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Ἰκονίου.] Ἀξίως τῆς σεαυτοῦ ἐμμελείας καὶ σπουδῆς, ἧς ἀεὶ ἐπαινέτης εἰμὶ ἐγώ, ἐμερίμνησας τὰ περὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας Ἰσαύρων. ὅτι μὲν οὖν τῷ παντὶ λυσιτελέστερον ἦν εἰς πλείονας ἐπισκόπους καταδιαιρεθῆναι τὴν μέριμναν, αὐτόθεν εἶναι δῆλον καὶ τῷ τυχόντι νομίζω· οὐδὲ γὰρ τὴν σὴν σύνεσιν τοῦτο ἔλαθεν, ἀλλʼ ὡς ἔχει καὶ ἐπεσημήνω καλῶς καὶ ἐγνώρισας ἡμῖν. ἐπεὶ δὲ οὐκ εὔκολον εὑρεῖν ἄνδρας ἀξίους, μήπου ἕως βουλόμεθα τὸ ἐκ τοῦ πλήθους ἀξιόπιστον ἔχειν, καὶ ὑπὸ πλειόνων ἀκριβέστερον ποιεῖν τὴν Ἐκκλησίαν τοῦ Θεοῦ οἰκονομεῖσθαι, λάθωμεν διὰ τὸ τῶν καλουμένων ἀδόκιμον εἰς εὐτέλειαν τὸν λόγον καταβαλόντες, ἀδιαφορίας μελέτην τοῖς λαοῖς ἐμποιεῖν; οἶδας γὰρ καὶ αὐτός, ὅτι ὁποῖοι δʼ ἄν ὦσιν οἰ προεστῶτες, τοιαῦτα ὡς ἐπὶ τὸ πολὺ καὶ τὰ ἤθη τῶν ἀρχομένων γίνεσθαι εἴωθεν. ὥστε τάχα βέλτιον ἕνα τινὰ δόκιμον, εἴπερ καὶ τοῦτο ῥᾴδιον, προβαλέσθαι τῆς πόλεως προστάτην, καὶ ἐπιτρέψαι τῷ ἐκείνου κινδύνῳ οἰκονομεῖσθαι τὰ καθʼ ἕκαστον· μόνον ἐὰν ᾖ τις δοῦλος Θεοῦ, ἐργάτης ἀνεπαίσχυντος, μὴ σκοπῶν τὸ ἑαυτοῦ, ἀλλὰ τὸ τῶν πολλῶν, ἵνα σωθῶσιν· ὃς ἐὰν εἰδῇ ἑαυτὸν μικρότερον πρὸς τὴν φροντίδα, προσλήψεται ἐργάτας εἰς τὸν θερισμόν. ἐὰν οὖν εὕρωμεν τοιοῦτον, ὁμολογῶ πολλῶν ἀντάξιον εἶναι τὸν ἕνα, καὶ ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις λυσιτελέστερον, καὶ ἡμῖν δὲ ἀκινδυνότερον, οὕτως οἰκονομῆσαι τῶν ψυχῶν τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν. ἐὰν δὲ τοῦτο μὴ ῥᾴδιον ᾖ, σπουδὴ γενέσθω ἡμῖν πρότερον ταῖς μικροπολιτείαις ἤτοι μικροκωμίαις ταῖς ἐκ παλαιοῦ ἐπισκόπων θρόνον ἐχούσαις δοῦναι τοὺς προϊσταμένους· καὶ τότε τὸν τῆς πόλεως ἀναστήσομεν, μήποτε ἐμπόδιον ἡμῖν πρὸς τὴν μετὰ ταῦτα οἰκονομίαν γένηται ὁ προβαλλόμενος, καὶ εὐθὺς ἀρξώμεθα ἡμεῖς τοῖς οἴκοι πολεμεῖν, διὰ τὸ πλειόνων βούλεσθαι ἄρχειν, καὶ μὴ καταδέχεσθαι τὰς χειροτονίας τῶν ἐπισκόπων. ἐὰν δὲ τοῦτο βαρὺ ᾖ, καὶ ὁ χρόνος μὴ ἐπιτρέπῃ, ἐκεῖνο σπουδασάτω ἡ σὴ σύνεσις, τοῦ ποιῆσαι περιγράψαι τῷ Ἰσαύρων τὸν ἴδιον κύκλον, διὰ τὸ χειροτονῆσαι αὐτὸν προσοίκους τινάς. τὸ δὲ ἐφεξῆς ἡμῖν ὑπάρξει τεταμιευμένον, εἰς τὸ κατὰ τὸν προσήκοντα καιρὸν δοῦναι πᾶσι τοῖς λοιποῖς ἐπισκόπους, οὓς ἂν κυριωτέρους εἶναι κρίνωμεν αὐτοί, διὰ πολλῆς ἐξετάσεως δοκιμάσαντες. Ἠρωτήσαμεν Γεώργιον, ὡς ἐκέλευσεν ἡ θεοσέβειά σου, καὶ εἶπεν ἃ καὶ ἡ σὴ εὐλάβεια ἀνήνεγκεν, ἐφʼ οἷς ἀνάγκη ἡμᾶς τὴν ἡσυχίαν ἄγειν, ἐπιρρίψαντας ἐπὶ Κύριον τὴν μέριμναν τοῦ οἴκου. πιστεύω γὰρ τῷ ἁγίῳ Θεῷ, ὅτι δώσει σύνεσιν, πρὸς τὸ ἑτέρῳ τρόπῳ ἐξελέσθαι τῶν ἀναγκῶν, καὶ ἡμῖν ἄλυπον τὴν ζωὴν προξενῆσαι. ἐὰν οὖν οὐ δοκῇ τοῦτο, αὐτὸς καταξίωσον ὑπομνηστικόν μοι ἀποστεῖλαι, περὶ τίνος χρὴ ἀξιώματος σπουδὴν εἰσενέγκασθαι, ἵνα ἀρξώμεθα αἰτεῖν ἕκαστον τῶν ἐν δυνάμει φίλων τὴν χάριν ταύτην, εἴτε προῖκα, εἴτε καὶ μετρίου τιμήματος, ὡς ἂν ἡμᾶς Κύριος εὐοδώσῃ. Ἐπέστειλα τῷ ἀδελφῷ Οὐαλερίῳ, ὡς προσέταξας. τὰ Νύσσης πράγματα ὅμοιά ἐστι τοῖς παρὰ τῆς σῆς θεοσεβείας καταλειφθεῖσι, καὶ προκόπτει ἐπὶ τὸ βέλτιον τῇ συνεργίᾳ τῶν σῶν προσευχῶν. οἱ μέντοι τότε ἀπορραγέντες ἡμῶν, οἱ μὲν ἀπῆλθον ἐπὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον, οἱ δὲ μένουσι τὴν ἐκεῖθεν ἀναμένοντες φήμην. δυνατὸς δὲ ὁ Κύριος καὶ τούτων ματαιῶσαι τὰς ἐλπίδας, κἀκείνοις ἄπρακτον τὴν ἐπάνοδον ποιῆσαι. Τὸ μάννα ὁ Φίλων ἑρμηνεύων ἔφη, ὥσπερ ἐκ παραδόσεώς τινος Ἰουδαϊκῆς δεδιδαγμένος, τοιαύτην αὐτοῦ εἶναι τὴν ποιότητα, ὥστε κατὰ τὴν φαντασίαν τοῦ ἐσθίοντος μετακιρνᾶσθαι· καὶ εἶναι μὲν καθʼ ἑαυτὸ οἱονεὶ κέγχρον ἑψημένον ἐν μέλιτι, παρέχειν δὲ νῦν μὲν ἄρτου, νῦν δὲ κρέως· καὶ κρέως τοιοῦδε, ἢ πετεινοῦ ἢ χερσαίου· νῦν δὲ λαχάνου, καὶ λαχάνου τοῦ κατὰ τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἑκάστου· καὶ ἰχθύος, ὡς τὸ ἰδίωμα τῆς καθʼ ἕκαστον γένος ποιότητος ἀκριβῶς ἐν τῇ γεύσει τοῦ ἐσθίοντος διασώζεσθαι. Ἅρματα ἀναβάτας τριστάτας ἔχοντα οἶδεν ἡ Γραφή, διὰ τὸ τῶν λοιπῶν ἁρμάτων δύο εἶναι τοὺς ἐπιβάτας, τόν τε ἡνίοχον καὶ τὸν ὁπλίτην· τὰ δὲ τοῦ Φαραῶ δύο μὲν εἶχε τοῦς πολεμοῦντας, ἕνα δὲ τὸν τὰς ἡνίας τῶν ἵππων ἔχοντα. Σύμπιος ἡμῖν ἐπέστειλε θεραπευτικὴν ἐπιστολὴν καὶ κοινωνικήν, ᾧ ἡμεῖς ἀντιγράψαντες ἐπέμψαμεν τῇ εὐλαβείᾳ σου τὰ γράμματα, ἵνα ἄγαν ἐγκρίνας κελεύσῃς αὐτῷ ἀποσταλῆναι, δηλονότι μετὰ προσθήκης καὶ σῶν γραμμάτων. Ἐρρωμένος, εὔθυμος ἐν Κυρίῳ, ὑπερευχόμενός μου χαρισθείης μοι καὶ τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ Ἐκκλησίᾳ τῇ τοῦ ἁγίου φιλανθρωπίᾳ.
Texto inglês de origem
ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium. 1. The interest which you have shown in the affairs of the Isaurian Church is only what might have been expected from that zeal and propriety of conduct which so continually rouses my admiration of you. The most careless observer must at once perceive that it is in all respects more advantageous for care and anxiety to be divided among several bishops. This has not escaped your observation, and you have done well in noting, and in acquainting me with, the position of affairs. But it is not easy to find fit men. While, then, we are desirous of having the credit that comes of numbers, and cause God's Church to be more effectively administered by more officers, let us be careful lest we unwittingly bring the word into contempt on account of the unsatisfactory character of the men who are called to office, and accustom the laity to indifference. You yourself know well that the conduct of the governed is commonly of a piece with that of those who are set over them. Perhaps therefore it might be better to appoint one well approved man, though even this may not be an easy matter, to the supervision of the whole city, and entrust him with the management of details on his own responsibility. Only let him be a servant of God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, 2 Timothy 2:15 not looking on his own things, Philippians 2:4 but on the things of the most, that they be saved. 1 Thessalonians 2:16 If he finds himself overweighted with responsibility, he will associate other labourers for the harvest with himself. If only we can find such a man, I own that I think the one worth many, and the ordering of the cure of souls in this way likely to be attended at once with more advantage to the Churches and with less risk to us. If, however, this course prove difficult, let us first do our best to appoint superintendents to the small townships or villages which have of old been episcopal sees. Then afterwards we will appoint once more the [bishop] of the city. Unless we take this course the man appointed may prove a hindrance to subsequent administration, and from his wish to rule over a larger diocese, and his refusal to accept the ordination of the bishops, we may find ourselves suddenly involved in a domestic quarrel. If this course is difficult, and time does not allow, see to it that the Isaurian bishop is strictly kept within his own bounds by ordaining some of his immediate neighbours. In the future it will be reserved for us to give to the rest bishops at the proper season, after we have carefully examined those whom we ourselves may judge to be most fit. 2. I have asked George, as you requested. He replies as you reported. In all this we must remain quiet, casting the care of the house on the Lord. For I put my trust in the Holy God that He will by my aid grant to him deliverance from his difficulties in some other way, and to me to live my life without trouble. If this cannot be, be so good as to send me word yourself as to what part I must look after, that I may begin to ask this favour of each of my friends in power, either for nothing, or for some moderate price, as the Lord may prosper me. I have, in accordance with your request, written to brother Valerius. Matters at Nyssa are going on as they were left by your reverence, and, by the aid of your holiness, are improving. Of those who were then separated from me some have gone off to the court, and some remain waiting for tidings from it. The Lord is able as well to frustrate the expectations of these latter as to make the return of the former useless. 3. Philo, on the authority of some Jewish tradition, explains the manna to have been of such a nature that it changed with the taste of the eater: that of itself it was like millet seed boiled in honey; it served sometimes for bread, sometimes for meat, either of birds or beasts; at other times for vegetables, according to each man's liking; even for fish so that the flavour of each separate kind was exactly reproduced in the eater's mouth. Scripture recognises chariots containing three riders, because while other chariots contained two, the driver and the man-at-arms, Pharaoh's held three, two men-at-arms, and one to hold the reins. Sympius has written me a letter expressive of respect and communion. The letter which I have written in reply I am sending to your holiness, that you may send it on to him if you quite approve of it, with the addition of some communication from yourself. May you, by the loving kindness of the Holy One, be preserved for me and for the Church of God, in good health, happy in the Lord, and ever praying for me.